Family Perspectives on Social-Cognitive Impairment in Verbal Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Issue 4 (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: MacKenzie, Kristen T.; Mazefsky, Carla A.; Minshew, Nancy J.; Eack, Shaun M.
• Is Part Of: Families in society. Volume 100:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 442
• Page End: 452
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: disabilities/rehabilitation -- subjects of practice -- caregiving -- family systems and functioning -- autism spectrum disorder -- social cognition -- modes of practice -- methods and analytics; Social service -- Periodicals; Social case work -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; Social service -- United States -- Periodicals; Family social work; Social case work; Social service; United States; Periodicals; 362.82097305
• DOI: 10.1177/1044389419852865
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-3894

Abstract

Social-cognitive challenges in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often assessed using caregiver report or performance-based instruments. This study compared caregiver report and performance-based measures of social cognition to examine convergence. A total of 128 verbal individuals with ASD were administered performance-based tests of social cognition assessing theory of mind, and one family member completed a measure of social cognition. Caregiver reports of social cognition were weakly and not significantly correlated with performance-based test scores. Caregiver- and performance-based measures converged for children compared with adults and for participants with lower intellectual ability. More research is needed to develop social-cognitive measures that incorporate caregiver perspectives and are robust across individuals with ASD of all ages and levels of intellectual functioning.